Maid of Honor
We can't exactly pinpoint when Kristen and RuthAnn became friends but we do remember thinking the other was the funniest person they had ever met during recruitment sophomore year. Kristen lives for the weekend and a carefully thought out prank. RuthAnn and Kristen stand firm in knocking a great joke out of the park when its teed up so perfectly. Kristen is a member of the Holly House girls and now lives nearby in D.C. Bennett not only gets to marry RuthAnn, but also Kristen, as their "throuple" is legally binding.
Bridesmaid
Kate and RuthAnn met through Madison freshman year at ECU. The 5 girls who lived on College hill would pile into Kate's Black Nissan Altima, lovingly referred to as Blatima, (that smelled like Crayons) and sing Closer by the Chainsmokers at least 8 hundred times. Kate is a member of the Holly House girls, and is now wife to the first Holly Husband, Chris! Kate will harmonize to any song, makes a mean loaf of sourdough, and spearheads the group pranks along with Kristen and Madison.
Bridesmaid
Kate Kus is one of Greenville, NC's finest and became close friends with RuthAnn (through Kate Cotter, through Madison) sophomore year at ECU. Kate and RuthAnn have a special greeting that we can only describe to each other as *rat face. It includes pointing at each other, saying HEEEYYYY BABBYY and scrunching your face. Kate is a member of the Holly House girls and has a country accent that comes out stronger when she drinks! Kate loves the Georgia Bulldogs, a CRISP Miller Lite, and makes everyone she meets her instant best friend.
Bridesmaid
Katie and RuthAnn were destined to find each other at ECU. It was easy to do considering they were always at the same fraternity parties in 2016. We watched each others backs, filled each others PJ cups, and ALWAYS did a lap at Bobs before picking a table. RuthAnn and Katie lived together in Arlington, with Megan, for several years and made many memories during a time post college when it felt like our lives were really coming together. Katie, RuthAnn and Megan all share a New Year's Day tradition of watching Mamma Mia and doordashing Krispy Kreme donuts.
Bridesmaid
Madison was RuthAnn's first friend in the sorority and is the reason she is friends with the rest of the Holly House girls. They lived together on College Hill, one dorm apart, and would spend way too many hours in Todd dinning hall. Madison would tap on RuthAnn's dorm window before our shared class to discuss if we were going to skip or not. Madison is a no nonsense kind of gal, loves instant mashed potatoes, and her bed. She is the first person to agree to a random trip and is to thank for RuthAnn's break out of shyness freshman year!
Bridesmaid
Megan thankfully convinced RuthAnn to live with her and her mom one summer for her internship in DC junior year. After college, RuthAnn and Megan lived in a house dangerously close to the bars in Arlington. We would often use the back gate of Wilson Hardware to run home and drink our own drinks then sneak back in to avoid the insane drink prices. We spent some big girl money on an inflatable pool that brought joy to our backyard during covid. Who knew you could work remotely from the pool?! Megan and RuthAnn now live 3 blocks apart and spend weeknights watching Dancing with the Stars/Survivor and weekends singing karaoke!
Bridesmaid
Sarah and RuthAnn were introduced Freshman year by Madison. Sarah, Kate Cotter, and Madison lived together at the Prov Sophomore year and kindly let the rest of us crash on their sofas each weekend! Sarah and RuthAnn share a love of antiquing, which we understand is just old stuff. We love our treasures! A member of the Holly house girls and a true beach bum, Sarah works as a nurse in South Carolina and notoriously has car issues. Wish Sarah the best of luck driving to the wedding!
Bridesman
John, RuthAnn's middle brother, truly influenced RuthAnn's personality growing up. He showed her what great television was, The Essence of Emeril (yes, Emeril Lagassi) and with his sway of the radio dial, introduced her to incredible music. John and RuthAnn not so secretly share the same sense of humor and true show monkey mentality. John recently married Jaclyn (thank god) and they had their first baby (my adorably cute god son), Hayes. John is likely to be found on the dance floor and behind the mic singing karaoke.
Officiant
Ben is RuthAnn's oldest brother and probably one of the people she looks up to the most! There is an 8 year gap between the two of them so they didn't get much time together during those pivotal sibling years but their relationship really grew during RuthAnn's time in college and beyond. Ben and his wife, Sara Beth have 2 red headed boys (Jack and Will) who tolerate RuthAnn but LOVE Bennett. Ben has a slew of good dad jokes, an endless supply of camping gear, and knows every word to all of the songs on the Greatest Showman soundtrack!
Best Man
When Bennett met Rory in middle school, he did not know what profound impact Rory would have on his life. After knowing each other through mutual friends, Bennett and Rory's friendship blossomed on the back of many Grange road trips and summers at camp getting asked "are you guys dating?" Bennett is so excited to have Rory stand beside him on his big day. There is no one better for the job; Rory has probably seen Bennett cry more than anyone, even RuthAnn!
Groomsman
Bennett and Jacob's friendship goes back as far as Bennett can remember. From their early days drifting Jacob's mom's Corvette in the FVUMC gravel lot, to living all around Greenville in...questionable and downright condemned living circumstances, Bennett and Jacob's love for music, video games, boats, and overall hanging and chilling has made them inseparable life long friends.
Groomsman
Along with Jacob (and often encouraged and financed by), Bennett and Kurt spent their formative years bouncing around Greenville, playing drums, breaking hearts, breaking rules, and causing trouble anywhere from Summit Street down to Eastern, and even out to Copper Beech. Bennett's fondest memories of Kurt are filled with jokes from high school German class (Ja, Hassan! Wo ist Petra? Bei Cafe Julia!!), streaking through Breckenridge in the dead of winter, and swapping their most memorable Joseph Gray stories (of which there are endless).
Groomsman
You have to keep your eye (and ear) out for Marshal. While Marshal will normally sit by and let Rowland and Bennett do most of the ragging on dad, Marshal will chime in every so often with a zinger that will knock you off your feet. Marshal has always had a knack for diagnosing and fixing things, starting back with the home computer and now to his (gnarly) blacked out Yukon. RuthAnn and Bennett are so excited to have Marshal in the wedding party as he brings a cool, calm, and chill vibe to every party!
Groomsman
Bennett has spent his whole life looking up to Rowland, for guidance on what to do, what not to do, and how to get away with it. Bennett often tried to follow in Rowland's footsteps, studying German, commandeering the Nook party spot deep in the woods, and performing dangerous and close to deadly stunts on the golfcart (all for the camera). Rowland and Bennett can often be found together on family trips in the local pub, having a pint and discussing religious and political theory, or planning out which historic castle to see on their next family trip.
Groomsman
Sam is probably the first real adult friend Bennett made out in the real world! Just two single guys in Nashville who didn't want to go to the bar at 11pm, Sam and Bennett found their footing (wheels) around Nashville together as they spent many an hour and hundreds of miles together on the not so safe and not so generous roads of Central Tennessee. Riding their bikes to coffee shops, Preds games, Indy car races, and in support of marathons, Bennett and Sam built a deep friendship unbothered by even the mighty Atlantic Ocean (Sam is on secondment in London living his best British life).
Groomsmaid
Hannah is the big sister that Bennett never had (as much as Rowland tried to fit the bill). For his whole life, Bennett has looked up to Hannah as a friend, confidant, and fellow doer of debauchery. If either Hannah or Bennett are up to something (good or no good), you can guarantee that the other one is in lock-step not far behind! Bennett and Hannah spent their childhood on the farm playing with their stuffed animals and having sleepovers, often arguing after a small tiff that "you aren't my cousin anymore!!" With those tumultuous days behind them, Hannah and Bennett spent much of their time in college going to football games, parties, and spending too many nights in Downtown Raleigh at Coglin's Bar. Bennett has been beyond excited to see Hannah and RuthAnn's friendship develop so deeply, sometimes concerning as they gang up and go after Bennett!
In Memoriam
RuthAnn and Bennett are so sad that Joseph cannot be with them on their wedding day. While we deeply miss Joseph's physical presence every day, he will be present in the hearts, minds, music, fun, and dancing of all his friends and family in attendance. Joseph and Bennett built a deep, everlasting friendship through the Church and through High School, bonding over their love of music (remember that Bohemian Rhapsody performance at VBS??), love of learning, and love of government and politics. Joseph and Bennett could spend hours on the phone, talking about every topic under the sun. Bennett was so excited to move to the DC area and looked forward to being so close to one of his best friends. Though Joseph’s time on Earth was shorter than we had hoped, we remain deeply grateful for every moment we shared. We carry with us the lessons he taught, the laughter he sparked, and the echoes of the music and fellowship that defined his life.
Junior Groomsmen
Jack (8), Will (5), and Hayes (almost 2) are RuthAnn’s nephews. More importantly, the boys are huge fans of uncle Bennett. Surprisingly, Jack and Will (red hair) are not sons of John (also red hair), but sons of Ben (brown hair). Similarly, Hayes (brown hair) is not the son of Ben (brown hair), but the son of John (red hair).